Bulls Are The Only Magic

Jordan Paces Rout With 38 In 3 Periods

The kids from Disney World, the Orlando Magic, were whistling a happy tune while surprising the NBA with eight victories in the first 20 games, the best among all the expansion teams.

But the team that was on key Thursday night in the Stadium was the Bulls. They acted like the visitors from Orlando were too small to be worried, dominating them 124-113 behind Michael Jordan`s 38 points in less than three quarters and Scottie Pippen`s 20 points and 8 steals.

The Bulls (13-7) had the Magic (8-13) down by 12 points after a quarter, 14 at halftime and 19 entering the fourth period, during which they led by as much as 20. They were like sharks gobbling minnows.

In winning their eighth game in the last 10 and seventh straight at home, the Bulls led by at least 15 entering the fourth quarter for the fifth time in the last seven games and sat their starters the entire final period.

Former Bull Reggie Theus led Orlando with 19. Terry Catledge had 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Orlando scored first, Catledge hitting a short turnaround jumper. From then on, the Bulls were clearly superior.

Jordan hit a jumper to send them on an 11-0 run, a margin they would keep for most of the first half.

In the midst of the splurge, of course, was Jordan, whose eyes grow wider when he sees Theus.

Ninety seconds into the game, Theus stepped up to guard Jordan, who blew past him for a slam that he turned into a three-point play and a 7-2 Bulls lead.

Catledge, who kept the Magic in range with nine points and eight rebounds in the first quarter, stopped the run with two free throws, and Orlando closed to 15-12 after Theus hit three jumpers and Sam Vincent a fourth.

The Bulls then went on a 12-4 surge to a 27-16 lead, Pippen picking off a couple of Orlando passes and turning them into Bulls baskets.

That was the difference in the first 9 minutes as the Magic committed six turnovers to none for the Bulls.

Orlando, especially with Dave Corzine still out after early-season knee surgery, is a team that runs constantly and simply tries to outscore its opponent.

This approach has been successful enough to make the Magic not only entertaining but one of the most successful expansion teams ever. Orlando already has defeated five playoff teams from last season, including the Lakers last Sunday.

But the Bulls have been making a lot of teams look bad on this homestand in winning five of their last six, and they eased into the second quarter leading 35-23.

A team like Orlando plays into what the Bulls hope to do, which is play pressure defense, turning that into offensive opportunities and running at every opportunity.

It`s what the Magic also tries to do, but with somewhat less talent.

That evened out some early in the second quarter when the Bulls went to their bench and were outscored 12-6 to start the quarter as Orlando cut its deficit to six.

Otis Smith, with nine points off the bench in the half, keyed that run for the Magic with two steals and three baskets.

But the Bulls got Jordan back into the game, and he took over. He made two free throws after an offensive rebound, drove and was fouled, scoring and adding a free throw. Then he set Craig Hodges up for a jumper to give the Bulls a 48-35 lead they nursed the rest of the quarter, amking it 66-42 by halftime.

Jordan added a pair of three-point baskets along the way to finish the half with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, all team highs. Grant added 14 points and Pippen 10 points and 4 steals.

For Orlando, Catledge had 16 points and 12 rebounds at the break.

Then it got worse for the Magic.

Jordan came out looking for more and got a three-point play to start the third quarter on the way to 12 points in the period. With about 3 minutes to go in the third, he left for the night with 38 points.

The Bulls led by 25 at the time and tacked on a few more baskets just to make sure. Pippen picked off another pass and went in for a reverse slam dunk. He added another slam on a baseline drive.

That gave Pippen nine points in the third quarter, and the Bulls went into the final period leading 94-73.